64 ADMINISTRATIVE ACI'IVITIES 1802-1812
had performed a significant and useful function at the beginning of
the 18th century in helping to destroy the mestnichestvo traditions and
to instill a new outlook in the service nobility. But by the time of the
first decade of the 19th century the situation had changed. The Table
of Ranks had become a dead weight and handicap to good administra-
tion, for it put a premium on length of service rather than ability.
Frequently it served to undermine the spirit of competition and pride
in good performance, for certain ranks could be secured automatically,
independently of accomplishments. Worst of all, the Table of Ranks
killed all incentive for learning and self-improvement, as promotions
and responsible assignments bore no relationship to the official"s know-
ledge, only to his titular rank.
Himself a bureaucrat risen from the ranks, Speransky saw more clearly
than anyone that an efficient bureaucracy depended upon the officials'
knowledge and formal training. Education and learniJ?g must be en-
couraged among the bureaucracy; promotions should depend on know-
ledge and the quality of performance, not the length of service. This
program Speransky tried to put into practice, of course only gradually
and cautiously, as many powerful interests were involved. True to his
own bureaucratic pattern and bent of mind, he suggested that the first
steps be taken within the existing framework of the Table of Ranks.
Bolstered by the Emperor's support, he prepared two decrees which
further contributed to rendering his name odious to the nobility.
The first, dated April 3, 1809 (PSZ 23,559) required that all those
who held the honorific title of Gentleman of the Chamber (Kamerger)
either actually perform the duties appertaining to the title, or else
transfer to some other active service - civilian or military - if they
wished to retain their rank. Needless to say, this measure provoked
the bitter anger of the courtiers. Not unjustifiably, Speransky was blam-
ed for it, and numerous new enemies with powerful support at Court
were added to the growing list of his ill-wishers. The second decree,
August 6, 1809 (PSZ 23,771) went further still, although it harked
back to the original intention of Peter the Great. It stipulated that
before any official could be promoted to the rank equivalent to that of
a staff officer - Collegiate Assessor, the 8th rank (chin) - or general
officer - State Councillor, the 5th rank - he had to pass satisfactorily
an examination which would test his general education and knowledge
of essential subjects, for instance Russian, mathematics, Latin, modern
languages. The shock and fearful indignation with which such an in-
novation was greeted by the nobility is easy to imagine. Particularly
bitter were the officials from among the small nobility who had receiv-